Apparatus for forming and assembling parts



.Septv Z5, 1951 J. s. STULL 2,568,776

APPARATUS RoR RORMING'AND AssRMRLING PARTS original Filed July s, 1945 7 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 25, 1951 original Filed July' s, 1945 J. S.n STULL APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ASSEMBLING PARTS 7 Shee'cs-SheerI 2 sepizs, 1951 isvswii' `4 2,568,776

APPARATUS FOR FoRMlNG AND AssEMBLlNG PARTS y original Filed July s, 194e l 7 sheds-sheet s zal" Y nlmuml fag llll P l m Sept. 25, 1951 l J. s. sTLlLl. APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND AssEMBLING PARTS 7 sneets-sheet 4 original Filed July 8, 1946 v Sept. 25, 1951 A.L s. sTULL l 2,568,776

APPARATUS FOR FORMING- AND AssEMBLxNG PARTS Original Filed July 8, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 N www N :c n m ffm Sept. 25, 1951 J. s. sTULL APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND AssEMBLING PARTS '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original F'iled July 8, -1946 Sept. 25, 1951- J. s. sTULl.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND AssEMBLING PARTS.

original Filed July 8, 194s '7 Sheets-Shree?l '7 9 A .NQ

tto.; gestion acmpressing die which, as the table is "being Patented Sept. 25, 1951 PATENT OFFICE APPARTUsHFo-RFRMING AND ASSEMBLING PARTS John S. StulLChicago; Ill., Vassigner to Western Electric Company, Incorporated; New York, Y., -a corporation of New York original application' July Sis, i946, serial 'Nol 682,112. Divided and this application Decem- Vber30, 1949l Seria'lNo. 135024" 10 Claims. 1 flhisinvention relates to anapparatusfor forminglanl'A assembling parts' and more particularly to'anapparatus forjfeeding a coil of wirewound L in a helix, severing la portion of the coil of wire ""tojlforin an annulus;` assembling the annulus onto anarticle, andde'forming a portion of the article toietain the annulus thereon, and is a division A ofgojpendingappslication of J. S; Stull, Serial 1}I. es2 ,11'2,s1ed July s, V1946. Some base members of metallic electronic vacuurm" tubes have vaplurality of separately formed yeletsprojecting therefrom and bonded thereto. Toi'nsure 'that'then'juncture between the base ="n 'iemloer and theeyelets isair-tight, each junct'ureis sealed Witht'a braz'ing material in a sub- "seguentbra'zing operation which, when done by lhand, isl'ver'y ine'ilicier'it. The brazing operation maybee'iip'editiousl'y performed by assembling an an'nulus of b razingV material Yaround each eyelet "anfsubjecting the`v assembly to a brazing ftemperature.

Itis' an object of the present invention to prov'dea'ri'l apparatus for effectivelyan'd e'ciently forming'and assembling parts.'

one' 'embodiment of the presentinvention, a veitically'reciprocable' table is provided forreceiving', in Ipredetermiiied positions thereon, 'a

"pluralityof.articles each having a plurality of tubular eyelets bonded thereto and extending upnya'lly.`tllerefrigiii `and"which table is intermit- "t'ently rotated through A90" to align 'the article suc- "ce'ss'ively with variousstation's of the apparatus.

"At one of the stations, the eyelets of the article "are positioned' vertical alignment with heli- ;callyjwound coils'ofpbrazing wire, several con- `vrolutins o`f Vwhich are fed past pairs ofucutting ws which are `actuated by the upward `'Inove- `nt of'the 'table' to sever from the helical supply f of br'azingzwirth'e coils thus forme'dby the r'sevleral:cornfolution's;` The severed coils which vform "annulifo'f brazi'ng material' are guided onto the ""eyeletsvof'the article" and the table is rotated 96 the "article at the next' station under moved upwardly, compresses the coils on the eyefletsintocompactform, after which the table is :again indexed t align the eyelets of the article withlaring ,tools'wat the afollowing station, which `flarir'1g`- toolsengage and'iiare'the ends of thee'ye- `letsasthearticle is 'moved upwardly by the table,

'after whichfoperation theV table is' indexed and "fthe completed assembly removed.

riiire complete understanding of the inven- 'o may 19e-hadby'referencetothe following detailed descriptionand the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof Fig"1 is a reduced plan view of the apparatus; lFig.2 is anenlarge'd front elevational viewof the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away'and showing the table for supporting the articles thereon'in its lowermost position;

FigS 'is' an enlarged pl'an'view 'of a portion of the apparatus indicated by the'line 3-3 on Fig. 2 ands'liowin'g the feed table and the upper' hori- 'zonta'i' vframe plate' and the parts 'supported thereby;

'-Fig. '4 is a bottom plan section taken on the lirici-tof Fig. 2 showing the upper frame plate 'and the parts carried thereby;

- jFig. 5` is a 'vertical transverse sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 in the direction yof the arrows and showing the feed table inits lowermost position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan sectional view takenon the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 showing the means for maintaining thetable in angularly adjusted position;

Fig. 7 is 4a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the-upper portion of the apparatus taken on the r line 1-1 of Figxl inthe direction of the arrows and showing the supporting table moved upwardlyv to'an intermediate position and showing the isupply'of 'helically formed brazing wire in its upper or retracted position;

*Fig lO-is a sectional viewsimilar to that of Figi 9 'showing a 'coil of brazing wire assembled thereon in expanded condition;

"":Fi'gl 11' is a View similar to Fig. 10 showing the coil =in compressedcondition and showingin dotted 1ines,\a'die"for compressing the coil;

" Fig; l2 is a view similar to Fig-11 showing the end of 'the eyelet flared and in engagement with 'theflaring toolyindicated in dotted lines; f ^""Fig. '13 is` a vertical transverse sectional view through the upper portion of the apparatus taken on" the'line l3-I3"of Figs; 3 and '7 and showing l:the article supporting-table in intermediate posi- Vlfior'and showing feed tubes and the helical wire @Supportedthereby withthe tubes in their adfvance'd or lower position;- if

`-Fig. "14 is'an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through a feed tube for feeding the brazing wire, with parts broken away, taken on the line I4-I 4 of Fig. '1, showing the relationship between the article, the helical supply of brazing wire, and the feed tube therefor and showing a pair of relatively movable cutting members associated with the coil of brazing wire for severing it;

Fig. is a view similar to that of Fig. 14 showing the parts in changed position and showing a' coil of brazing Wire severed from the'V supply and in assembled relation on the eyelet of the article;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l6-i 6 of Fig. 14 showing the relation between the cutting members and the supply of brazing wire and showing the supply of brazing wire and the feed tube therefor in the upper or retracted position in full lines and in the advanced or lower position in dotted lines;

Fig. 1'1 is a fragmentary plan sectional View taken on the line I1-l1 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view of a portion of the drive mechanism taken on the line I 8-18 of Fig. 2 showing a iioating movable rack bar meshing with a driving pinion for rotating a vertical drive Shaft;

Fig. 19 is a view in perspective of a portion of a reciprocable actuating cam member;

Fig. 20 is a view in perspective of the reciprocable floating rack bar;

Fig. 21 isa view in perspective of a latching member for latching the rack bar shown in Fig. 20 in one position;

Fig. 22 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of the machine showing some of the meansfor actuating the apparatus and showing the cam bar illustrated in Fig. 19 in an intermediate position; and

Fig. 23 is a plan sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 22 taken on the line 23-23 of Fig. 22.

The apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings serves to form and to assemble an annulus or coil 25 (Figs. 8 and 10) of several convolutions of helically formed brazing wire onto tubular elements or eyelets 26 (Fig. 9) projecting from a dish-shaped base member 21 of an article 28, to press the convolutions of the helical coils into tight engagement with each other (Fig. 1'1) and to iiare the end of the eyelets 26 (Fig. 12) to prevent accidental removal of the coil 25 therefrom. The dish-shaped base member 21 of the article 28, which forms a part of a vacuum tube assembly, is perforated at 29-29 to receive the eyelets 26-26, which project therethrough and are provided with flanges 36. The flanges 30 of the eyelets 26 engage the underneath side of the member 21 and are bonded thereto by a brazing or welding operation. The number of eyelets 26 provided on the various base members 21 varies, only two being shown in the embodiment illustrated herein.

In a subsequent operation, the article 28 and the annuli 25 of brazing material thereon are heated to a brazing temperature to fuse the annuli 25 and seal the `juncture between the eyelets 26 and the base member 21 of the article 28.

Generally, the present apparatus comprises a four-station machine, at the rst station of which the article 28 may be applied to an intermittently rotatable and vertically reciprocable table and then moved to the second station, where it is positioned in alignment with a. helical supply of brazing wire, from which the coil 25 of several expanded convolutions is severed and guided onto the eyelets 26 (Fig. 10), after which thearticle Vfluid actuator 65.

4 is moved to the third station, where the convolutions of the severed expanded coil of wire are compressed into tight engagement with each other (Fig. 11) after which operation the article is moved to the fourth station,.where the eyelets 26 are moved in to engagement with flaring tools (Fig. 12) to flare the ends of the eyelets 26 and,I upon the completion of this operation, the articleis moved to the first station Where the completed assembly is removed.

The apparatus has a main frame 34 (Figs. 1

` and 2), which is mounted on a base member 35 and comprises a plurality of horizontal plates,l namely, a base plate 36, intermediate plates 31 and 38, and an upper-plate 39, spaced apart by and secured to a pair of vertical plates or walls'I Y 40 and 4i. The intermediate plates 31 and 38 are: apertured at 42 and 43 to receive a shaft 44, which has an article supporting table 45 integrally formed therewith at its upper end.

Secured to and extending downwardly from the lower end of the shaft 44 are four supporting rods or pins 48, which engage and rest on the hori- 1 zontal surface 49 of a supporting member 50. The supporting rods 48 are equally spaced about the axis of rotation of the shaft 44 and are adapted to be engaged by the hook 5l of a horizontally reciprocable actuating member or4 bar 52 for the purpose of indexing or rotating the table 45 through movements of 90 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed from above (Fig. 3).

The supporting member has a cylindrical rod or shaft 55 extending upwardly from the surface 49 into a recess 56 of the shaft 44 to serve as a bearing post and to maintain the member 50 in alignment with the shaft 44. A roller 56, rotatably mounted on a pin 59, is provided in the member 56 and rides on the upper surface of a horizontally reciprocable actuating cam member or bar 60 which slidably mounted in a groove 6| in the base plate 36 and moves into suitable clearance apertures in the vertical walls 40 and 4l. The cam member 60, when reciprocated, is adapted to raise and lower the supporting table 45 and actuate driving mechanism, hereinafter described, for feeding the coils of brazing wire.

A portion 62 of the member 50 extends downwardly into sliding engagement with the side of the cam member 60 to prevent rotation of the member 56 during the operation of the apparatus.

The actuating members 52 and 60 (Figs. 1 and 2) are respectively pivotally and rigidly connected to a block 63, which, in turn, is connected to one `end of a piston rod 64 of a fluid operated actuator 65. The piston 64 is reciprocated through distances of predetermined length at a controlled .rate of movement and at the end of each stroke the direction is automatically reversed by means comprising an arm 66 secured to and extending horizontally from the block 63, which arm y66 alternately engages and actuates reversing valves 61 and 68 hydraulically connected to the main control valve 69 to automatically actuate the valve 69 and reverse the flow of fluid into the The table 45 is provided with four circular positioning members or seats 10 equallyV spaced about thevaxis of rotation thereof for receiving and supporting the dish-shaped articles 28 thereon with the tubular elements 26 extendingupwardly therefrom, as shown in Figs. 5, '1 and 13. 'Ihe members 16 are apertured at 1I-1l to receiveA positioning pins 12--12 vertically extending therethrough, which are arranged to receive the eyelets 26 and position the artic1e28 in proper meer@ ...f

angulanrelation on'theseats 10;. The pins 12 are vertically'movable andare securedat their lower ends to'y disc members 13, which: are urged upwardly into recesses l14 of the members 10 by expansion. springs 15 mounted in recesses in the table 45. It will readily be seenthat the articles 28may be placed on the positioning members 10 mounted on the table 45vandf the table 45 may be vertically reciprocatedand in timed relation thereto `rotated intermittently in increments of 90 to advance the article through acompleterevolution about the axisof the table.-

The upper plate 39'of the frame of the appa- Yratus isshapedand positioned tooverlie three of thesseats on the'table 45 (see, Fig. 3) Aand to leave ene of theseats 10 accessible to the operator, The accessible seat lll-may be considered aslocatedat station No. 1 (Fig. 3) and the other seats 10, following in a counterclockwise direcf tion, are aligned with stations Nos. 2, 3 and 4, respectively, of the apparatus.v v v The upper plate 39is providedwith an upward lygextending boss 16 (Figs. 7 and 13), Whichis apertured Vat 11 to receive a head 18 slidably mounted therein and in axial kalignment with the seat4 10 at stationNo. 2. The head 18 comprises acylindrical block 80 fitting in the recess 11 and ari-upper liangeprtion 8| adapted to seat against the upper ysurface 82 of the boss 16. A pair of rods BEL-85 (Fig..7) secured to the underneath side ofthe flange 8| of the head 18, extend verti- ,cally downwardly therefrom through apertures 'fl-llland terminatein enlarged ends 81. The ends81`81 of the rods 85--86 extend below the plate 39` and are spaced fromthe table |15 when the table is its lowermos't position and are adar'ited to be engaged by the table 45 and moved upwardly thereby various predetermined lamounts during the upward movement ofthe table. The head'18. and rods 85-85 are urged downwardly b'y. springsBB- interposed between the shoulders formed on the rods 85 and by the apertures 86'.' The posts 85 also prevent rotation of the headfl.

The head .18. is provided with substantially vertical apertures 94-94 to receive rotatably and slidably 'therein feed tube members 95-95" (Figs. 7, 13, 14, l5 and V16) which'a're' adapted to receive anidji'rictionally support a helicalsupply'of braziiigwire 96, from which the coils or annuli 25 arefrmed'. The feed tubes`95 extend above the recessed surface 98 ofthe head18 and, at 'their pper'ends, are provided with lintegral spur teeth which formspur gears |00. The spur gears |00 inesliwith' the internal teeth |0| of a ring' gear |02 rotatably"supported on the surface 98of the rlieadl and `guided for rotarymovement thereon byan annular rib |03 fitting in an annular groove |04 in the head 18.l The ring gear |02`is profvidedwith' external teeth |08, which mesh with spur gear |09 mounted on the'upper `endof j vertical shaft nu, which is suitably iournaued i lie-'frame member 34 and which is driven by t-mechanism later to be described. A hand wheel (Fig. 2) is xedtovtl'ie upper end of the 'shaft' ||0 'for manually rotating the feed tubes 9'5when applying a new supply of brazing wire 9|i`ftheretc-f Y y The teeth of -the spur gear |00`are cut lto form af-khel-icallgroove ||2 inthe ge'ar'andv provide a -lelic'alfam ||3 on the upper-'end of eachffeed tubev 95.-' Stationary cam members =||4; having biicue. aan arcuate ends `l lsiformedfto nt 'inthe groove |2, are secured to the head 18 by machine TWS' 1 I The l (fallin '1 mmlblS- l '4 "l "cOper-ate with the helical cam ||3 so that, upon rotation of thegear |00, the feed tubes 95 will be moved axially up or down.` It will thus be seen that, upon rotation ofthe ring gear |02, the feed tubes 95arejrotated'labout their own axes and moved up and down by the member |5 engaging in the spiral groove .l I2 to produce a helical motion and impart a helical feeding movement to the helical supply of braz'ing wire 96.

The brazing wire 9B, as previously mentioned, isformed'into a helix, the convolutions of which are compressed into tight engagement with each ether'to. make the supply compact and to form, ineffect, a tube which is adapted to pass through and frictionally engage the feed tubes 95 and be supported thereby. In order to facilitate the cutting offr of a portion of the supply of braaing wire 196,- the lower convolutions of the helix are expanddto a predetermined spacing or' pitch and; f'or this purpose, expanding members |20 are provided (Figs. 14 and 15). The expanding members |20 comprise cylindrical plugs secured in the lower ends fthefeed tubes 95 and are provided with helical peripheral grooves |2 into which the' lower lends of the helical supply of brazing wire is threaded. The helical grooves I2! of the member |20 have the proper predetermined' 'spacing so that the helical brazing wire 95, as it passes therethrough, is expanded to pro# vide the proper pitch or spacing between adjacent convolutions thereof.

Cutting means are provided for each helical .supply of brazing Wire to sever a coil 25 of several convolutions from the supply 9E and comprises stationary cutting members |22 and movable cutting members |23 (Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, 13 and 7); The' movable cutting members |23 are integrallyformed on and project downwardly from an annular mounting ring |24 secured to the lower end of the cylindrical block by a pair of cap screws |25|25 (Fig. 7). Extending inwardly from each movable cutting member |23 area pair'` of projections or jaws |21 and |28, whic'hare obliquely disposed in the path of the helical brazing wire BB'and spaced apart to provide a groove |29 to receive a loop of the helical wire 96 Atherein (Figs. 14 to 17, inclusive). Each movable member |23 is formed with a fiat verticalY surface |3| radially disposed in alignment with the axis of the helical brazing wire 96 and forms a radially disposed cutting edge |32V on the jaw member |28.

The station-ary cutting members |22 are each provided with an inwardly directed obliquely disposedprojection or jaw |35 normally aligned with the jaw |28 of the Amovable cutting member .|23 and each is disposed in the path of the-helical brazingV wire v and is adapted to t between a pair of adjacent convolutions thereof (Fig. 14). The' stationary cutting members |22 are each provided with a radially disposed flat vertical face |38, which slidingly engages the'surface |3| of the movable cutting members |23 and forms a cutting edge |37 on the jaw |35 which, in cooperationwith the cutting edge |32 of a movable cutting jaw, acts toI sever the loop of the brazing wire 95Y positionedy therebetween when theV movable cutting member |23 is moved upwardly; Y y

A's` shown in Figs. 7,Y 13 and 17, the stationary cutting members |22 are formed integrally with andex'tend out from an annular member |38, which is'secured to a mounting ring |39 by a pair of cap screwsY Idil-.440 (Fig. 7). The mountirigfringr; ltfllts"Y within-the aperture 75 of the plate 39 and has secured thereto a pair -of upwardly extending spacing rods |42|42 (Fig. 13), which pass through suitable apertures in the annular member |24 and the cylindrical block 80 and which are provided with enlarged ends |43-|43. The ends |43|43 of the rods |42-I42 bear against a pair of horizontally disiposed pins |44|44 secured in theboss 16 by a pair of set screws |45|45. A pair of springs |41-|41, interposed between the heads |43 of the rods |42 and shoulders |48 formed in the lsides of the cylindrical member 80, serve to urge 'the rods |42 and the mounting for the stationary cutting members |22- |22 upwardly against the stationary pins |44.

It will be apparent that with the cutting members |22 and |23 in their normal position, and with a loop of the helical supply of brazing wire 96 therebetween, as shown in Fig. 14, the loop interposed between the cutting edge |31 and |32 will be severed by an upward movement of the movable cutting member |23. The cutting members |22 are fixed against movement upwardly but are yieldingly mounted to permit downward movement thereof to facilitate the removal of scrap from the feed tubes.

An article 26 placed on one of the seats 10.is adapted to be positioned in alignment with the head 18 for each indexing movement of the table 45 and is arranged so that the eyelets 26 thereon and the positioning pins 13 extending therethrough are in vertical alignment with the lower ends of the coils of brazing wire 96. During the indexing of table 45, the roller 58 of the supporting member 50 rides on the horizontal surface |50 of the cam member 60. been indexed, the table 45 is elevated as the cam member 60 moves to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the roller 58 rides up the inclined surface |I. `The upward movement of the vtable 45 is stopped with the table in a position shown in Fig. 7 while the roller 58 rides on the .horizontal surface |52 of the cam member 60, in which position of the table the article 28 at station No. 2 is positioned adjacent the cut-off members |22 and 23 and the positioning pins 12 are positioned within the lowermost convolutions of the coils of the brazing wire 96 and the top surface of the table 45 engages the lower end of the rods 81.

During the dwell in the Vertical movement of the table 45, while the roller 58 is riding on the surface |52 (Fig. 22), the ring gear |02 is rotated in a clockwise direction to advance each of the feed tubes 95 downwardly and feed two convolutions of each of the helices of brazing wire 96 between each of the cutting jaws |28 and |35, as shown in Figs. 14 and 17. As the cam member 60 continues its movement to the right, the roller 58 rides up the cam incline |53 and imparts a further upward movement to the table 45 and then rides on the horizontal surface |54 of the cam surface 60. The slight upward movement imparted to the table by the cam rise |53 is transmitted through the rods 81 to the head 18 and the movable cutting members |23 to grip a loop of each of the helical supplies of brazing wire Q6 between the cutting edges |32 and |31 of the movable and stationary cutting jaws |28 and |35, respectively. While the brazing wire 96 is thus held by the cutting members, the feeding mechanism, later to be described, is operated to drive the feed tubes in the reverse direction and retract them relative to the helical wire and effectthe emergence of two convolutions of the coil from the lower end of each of the feed tubes.

The table 45 is then further elevated by the After the table 45 has cam rise |55 on 4thev cam member 60 toriais the movablecutting members |23 further 'and sever the coils 25 from the supplies of brazing wire 96 (Fig. 5). The'severed coils 25 of the brazing wire drop vertically onto the eyelets 26 of the article 28, the coils being guided onto the eyelets by the guidepins 12.

The construction of the means for rotating the ring gear 4||l`2 andV driving the feed tubes 95 to feed the helices of brazing wire 96 in timed relation with the vertical movement of the table 45 will be apparent fromthe following. The ring gear |02, is driven by a gear |09 secured to the upper end of 'a shaft I0, which is journalled in suitable bearing'apertures in theframe 34, as previously stated, and theshaft ||0 is retained therein against axial displacement bycollars |51 and |58 (Fig. 2). VAttached to the'lower end of the shaft ||0 is a gear |60 (Figs. 18, 22 and 23) meshing with gearteeth |61 o f a floating rack bar |62 (Fig. 20). The rack bar|62 is provided with guide portionsgor flanges |63-|63 and is slidably mounted in ways |64 formed in a supporting memberv or block |65 apertured at |66 to rotatably receive the gear |60. Collars |61 and |68 (Fig. 18) pinned to the shaft ||0 above and below the gear |66,l respectively, serve to support the member |65vertically on the shaft I0. Extending laterally from one end of the rack bar |62 is a-triangular shaped lug |10 and at the opposite end therack Abar is formed witha cam surface |1|.v f 1 The rack bar 62, slidably mounted in the supportingmember |65, is moved toward the left. aslviewed in Figs. 22and 23, by a contractile spring |16, which isV secured at one end to a stationary pin |14 .andat its lother end, to a pin |15 extending horizontally from the rack bar |62. The spring |13,.th'rough the pin |15, also tends to turn therack bar |62and the supporting member |65 clockwise about the shaft ||0 and moves the lug |10 of the rack bar into engagement with the side of the cam member 60 (Fig. 23), which limits the turning movement thereof. The lug |10 of .the rack bar |62 slidably engages the side of thecam member 60 and is located in the path of.movement of aY pin |18 extending from the side ofthe cam member 60.

AsV the cambar 60 moves to the right, the pin |18 thereonwill vrengage the 1ug|10 of the rack bar |62 and movethe rack bar to the right, as ,viewed in Fig. 23. As the rack bar |62 continues its movement tothe right, the cam surface |1| thereon engagesA a stationary vertical pin and cams therack Vbar in a counterclockwise direction to move the lug |10 out of the path of the pinY |18, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 23, and disengage thedriving connection between thepin 4|18'and the bar |62.

-When theV rack b'ar |62 .has reached the posi- :tion indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 23, the lug |10 is automatically engaged by a pivoted latching member |,8|- and is held stationary thereby untilthe latching-member is actuated to release the rackA bar. .The latching member |8| is pivoted at |82 Vtoabracket |83 secured to the plate 36 and is urged upwardly or in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, by a spring-pressed plunger |84 engaging a pin |86 on the Vlatching member |8|. YThe end of the latching member |8| isV notchedfto provide horizontal and vertical shoulders |81 and |88 (Fig. 21), respectively, `which-'engage the lug |10 of the rack bar'l62; f '1 :This movementto the right .of the rack bal' |62 serves to rotate the shaft l0 and, through the gears `|09, Y'| 02 and "|00, reversely rotate the feed tubes 95 two complete revolutions. This reverse rotation of theeed tubes *95 occurs when the table 45has been elevated Yto move :each of the movable cutting jaws |28 to grip a'loop of .the helices of brazing wire -96 against the stationary cutting jaws |35 while'the roller '58 of .the supporting member 59 is riding .onthe hori'- zontal surface |54 of the .cam :bar .60. During `rthis reverse rotation ofthe "feed tubes 95, the helical supplies of brazing wire 95 .are held stationary and the fed tubes are .retracted in a helical path two complete revolutions .relative thereto to eiect the spreading of =two convolu- .tions of the wire and the emergence .o'f'two convolutions of brazing wire from the'lower endof the feed ltubes 95.

At a later predetermined point inthe movement to the right of t':.e cam member 60, an actuating pawl |90 (Figs. 2 `and 22) pivotally Amounted on the cam member 8,0 will engage a cam lug |9| secured to the side .of the 'latching `member |8| and depress .the latch v| 8| to -disengage the shoulder |88 thereof .from the lug `|10 of the `rack bar |62 and .the -rack :bar |62 will then be rapidly moved to theleftby the spring ,1.13. This rapid movement ,of the rack bar [62 to the left will rotate the shaft .|10 and, through `the gears |09, |02 and |309, forwardly drive the .feed tubes 95 two complete revolutions. This forward rotation of the feed .tubes 95 occurs .While the roller 58 of the supporting -member 50 rides on the cam surface |52 of the cam bar 60 and serves to feed two Aconvolutions of the ,helical .supply of brazing wire 9.6 between ,the cutting ,jaws |28and |35.

The members 52 and 65, `as previously mentioned, are reciprocated through distances of predetermined length and at a controlled rate of movement bythe fluid `actuator 69. .On the forward or right hand movement of Vthe cam member 60, the table 45 is raised :toits various levels, with the proper interval of dwell .at each level, v.to raise the article 28 at station No. 2 into prox- .imity with the supplies of brazing wire and to actuate the movable lcutting members |23 to grip loops of brazing wire against the stationary cutting members |2-2 and vhold. the helical supplies `of wire 96 for a predetermined -interval of time and subsequently to sever coils 25 therefrom, and, in timed relation with the vertical -movement of the table and the articles .28, the cam-member 60, in its forward movement, acts, in cooperation with the spring |13 and other iparts, to effect the reciprocation of the floating rack bar |62 -tc impart rotation Ato the drive vmechanism for rotating the feed tubes 95 to feed successive lengths of brazing wire between the cutting jaws. On the return stroke of the cam member, the table is 'lowered to its initial starting position, as shown in Fig. 2, while the driving means for feeding the brazing wire remains idle.Y

.During the last part of the return or left hand movement of the member 52, as viewed in Fig.-2, the hook 5| thereon engages one of the supporting rods 48 of the shaft 44 and rotates the shaft 44 and the tab1e'45 through an arc 4of 90 and sto-ps in the position indicated in dot yand dash lines in Fig. 23. The member 52 is guided for hori- Zontal movement in a slot |93 in the vertical wall 40 and is urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed from above (Fig. 23) by a spring-pressed plunger |94 slidably engaging the edge thereof and yieldably mounted in a recess in the wall 40. On its rforward movement, the member 52 is cammed laterally by the engagement of 'one of the rods 48 with the oblique cam surface |96 on vthe forward end of the member 52 until the surface |96 rides 01T the rod 48 and the member 52 is moved clockwise into engagement with therods 48, as shown in full lines in Fig. 23. A suitable aperture 'is formed in the wall 4| to provide clearance for the member 52 during its 4reciprocation.

To maintain :the table 45 in 'the 'various positions to which it is indexed and .insure 'accurate alignment of the articles 28 with the various stations, the shaft 44 is provided with Afour equally spaced vertical V-shaped grooves |98|98 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) which are adapted to receive and cooperate with a spring-pressed detent |99 mount- .:ed in arecess 200 lnithe intermediate plate member 31 of the frame 34. To prevent the inertia from carrying the table, when indexed, beyond its proper position, va drag or brake is constantly applied thereto by a plunger 202 (Fig. 5) slidably engaging the upper surface of the table. -The plunger 202 is mounted for vertical movement in a housing 203 secured to the upper hori- Zontal plate 39 and is urged downwardly by an expansion spring 204 to 'apply a continuous pressure. against the table.

After the coils 25 of brazing wire have been 'assembled on the eyelets 26 of the article 28 at station No. 2, the table 45 is indexed and the article is advanced to station No. 3. As the article 28 is moved upwardly by the table 45 at sta- .tion No. 3, the expanded coils 25 on the eyelets 26 engage a compressing die l206 (Figs. 5, 4 and 3) secured to the upper frame plate 39 by a cap screw 201 and are compressed so that the convolutions Athereof are in tight engagement with each other, as indicated in Fig. 1l. The die 22| is provided with recesses 208 to receive land provide clearance for the eyelet members 26 and the positioning pins 12.

When the table 45 is lowered and again indexed, the article 20 is positioned at station No. 4 and -the eyelets 26 on the article 28 are in vertical alignment with flaring tools 2|0 (Figs. 7, 4 and 3) secured toand projecting downwardly from the frame plate 39. The .ends of the eyelets 26 on the article 28, when moved upwardly by the table 45, engage the tapering ends 2|| kofthe flaring tools 2|0 and are flared outwardly thereby (Fig.

A reciprocable disc 2|3 (Fig. '1) formed on the lower end of the stem 2|4 and apertured to receive the flaring tools 2|0, is engageable with the upper edges of the eyelets 26 and serves as a stripper therefor should the eyelets 26 become wedged onto the flaring tools 2|6. The stripper member 2|3 is moved upwardly by the engagement therewith of the eyelets 26 and is positively moved downwardly in timed relation with the rest of the apparatus by a lever 2|5 pivotally mounted at 2|6 in a bracket 2| 1 secured to the plate 39 (Fig. 7). The lever 2l5 is actuated by the engagement therewith of one 'end of a bar 2 I8 slidably mounted in the plates 31, 38 and 39 adjacent the vertical wall 40 for vertical reciprocation. The bar 2|3 is provided lat its lower end with a Ir-oller 2|9, which rides upon the upper horizon- -tal surfaces 220 and 22| and the inclined cam surface 222 of the bar 52 as it is horizontally reciprocated, to actuate the stripper member 233 `through the bar '2|3 and the lever 2&5.

seavvc vertically reciprocate the table 45 and in timed relation thereto index the table through angular movements of 90 and, in synchronized relation with the movements of the table, actuate the driving mechanism to feed the supplies of brazing wire 96. An operator may apply an article 28 onto the seat 'I8 at station No. 1 with the eyelets 26 tting around the positioning pin 'I2 while the table 45 is in its lowermost position and during its period of dwell. The table i5 is then indexed on the last portion of the return movement of the `actuating member 52, which carries the article 28 to station No. 2. Another article 28 may be applied to the seat 16 at station No. 1. As the cam member 6D starts itsmovement to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, the roller 58 will ride up the inclined surface I| of the cam member 68 and elevate the table 45 and raise the articles 28 at station No. 2 to the position indicated in Fig. 7, at which elevation the table will dwell as the roller 58 rides on the surface |52 of the cam member 60. While the table 45 is in this intermediate position and the roller 58 ride-s on the surface |52, the pawl |98 (Fig. 22) cams the latching member |8| downwardly to di-sengage the latch |8| from the rack bar |62 while the bar |62 is in its Iright hand position, as indicated in Fig. 2 in full lines and in Fig. 23 in dotted lines. The rack bar |62, under the influence of the spring |13, will be rapidly moved to the left, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 23, to rotate the gear |68 and the shaft ||0, and through the gear |88 xed to the upper end thereof, rotate the ring gear |82 and the gears |80 of the feed tubes S5 in a clockwise direction, as viewed from above. This clockwise rotation of the feed tubes 95 will advance the feed tubes and the ends of the brazing wire projecting from the lower ends thereof downwardly in a spiral path and feed two convolutions of the wire through the spaced cutting jaws |28 and |35 of the cutting members, yas shown in Fig. 14.

As the cam bar 68 continues its movement to the right, the roller 58 will ride up the inclined surface |53 to further elevate the table 45 a small amount, which movement is transmitted through the rods 81 to the head 18 to raise the movable cutting member |23 suiiiciently to grip the loops of the helices of brazin'g wire between the movable and stationary cutting jaws |28 and |35. While the table is at this elevation and the roller 58 is riding on the horizontal surface |54 ofthe cam member 68 and the coils of brazing Wire are firmly gripped by the cut-off jaws, the pin |18 on the cam member 60 engages the lug |18 of the rack bar |62 and moves it to the right to rotate the feed tube driving mechanism in the reverse direction. Thus, while the helices of wire 96 are firmly gripped and held stationary, the feed tubes 95 are reversely driven and retracted in helical paths relative to the wire 96 to spread the convolutions of the helical wires as they pass through the expanding members |28 and displace or uncover two convolutions of wire from each of the lower ends of the tubes 95. On completion of the reverse movement of the feed tube driving mechanism, the roller 58 rides over the cam rise |55 of the cam member 68 and further elevates the table 45, which upward movement is transmitted through the rods 8'| to the head 'I8 and to the movable cutting members |23 which, in cooperation with the stationary cutting members |22. sever the coils 25 from the helical supplies of brazing wire 96, as shown in Fig. 15. The severed coils 25 will be guided by the positioning pins 12 onto the eyelets 26 of the article 28.

On the reverse or return movement of the,

. Y 12 Y Y Y member 60, and the member 52, the table and the .article28 carried thereby will be lowered and, toward the end of the reverse movement, the hook 5| of the member 52 will engage one of the supporting rods 48 and rotate the table through an arc of The article 28 previously at station No. 2 will be advanced to station No. 3 and the article at station No. 1 will be advanced to station No. 2 and another article may be applied to the seat 10 at station No. 1. As the actuating mem'bers 52 and 60 are moved forward on another cycle of operation, the table 45 will be raised to move the article at station No. 3 upwardly Yand lmove the coils 25 on the eyelets 26 into engagement with the compressing die 288 to compress the coils 25 (Fig. 11) Onthe return movement o-f the members 52 and 60, the table is indexed to advance the article previously at station No. 3 to station No. 4. Another article 28 may be applied to the seat 10 at station No. 1 and asthe table is again elevated during the following cycle, the ends of the eyelets at station No. 4 on the article 25 are moved into engagement with the flaring tools 2|0 and flared outwardly thereby .(Fig. 12). the article 28, with coils 25 assembled thereon, may be removed from the seat 'i8 atV station No. 1 and another article 28 applied thereon. It will be apparentthat during the operation of the apparatus, articles 28 will be positioned at each of stations 2, 3 and 4 and simultaneously acted upon by the mechanism associated with each station, yand at station No. 1 the assembled articles. may be removed from the apparatus and other unfinished articles 28 applied thereto.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative vof the application of the principles ofthe invention. lNumer.- ous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art Which will embody the principles of the invention and fallV Within the Sprit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is: ,Y i

1. In an apparatus forvattaching brazinggmaterial to parts to be braaed, means for feeding said parts to a pluralityof positions, means for feeding a length of brazing material to the parts in one of said positions, means for deforming said length of brazing materialV to engage said parts in another of said positions, means for deforming one of the parts at a third position to retain the length of brazing material on the parts, and a rciprocatory actuating plunger common to al1 of saidfeeding and deforming means for operating them in a predetermined sequence.

2. In an apparatus for assembling coils on tubes, rotatable means for feeding 'sai/d tubes to a plurality of positions, means for feeding a supply of coiled brazing material at one of said positions, means at said one position for clipping a coil from the supply of coil brazing material whereby said coil is deposited on said tube in said position, means for deforming said tube ,in another of said positions to retain the coil thereon, and means for reciprocating said rotatable feeding means to actuate the clippingmeansat one position and to effect thedeforming of the tube at said other position including a reciprocatory actuating plunger common to both of said feeding means for operating them in a predeter-v mined sequence.

3. In an apparatus for assembling coils on tubes, means for feeding said tubes to a .plurality of positions, means for feeding a supply of coiled grazing material at one of said positions, means When the table 45 is again indexed' l13 .forrclippingaooil .fromsaid .supply .of coiled ma. -teriaimeans for guiding saidcoilonto said tube Vinfsad one position, means .for compressing the coilron the tube at another position, meansfor deforming `thetube to retain the lcoil thereon in a third position, said tube feeding vmeans being movable to cooperate with the .clipping means, .COIItpressingmeans and deforming .means rto clip the rcoil, effect `the compression of the coil, and effect the deforming ofthe-tube, anda reciprocatory .actuating means for Aactuating said coil feeding means vand said tube feeding -means in a predetermined sequence.

I n a forming and. assembling apparatus, means includinga reciprocating actuating member for intermittently feeding -a y,helix yof brazing wire, means -for Acutting oif from said helix a vcoil containing a .plural number of convolutions, a

.cgrnpressing die, a `flaring tool, lmeans for supporting said aforementioned means iin a predetermined relation to each other, .an article supporting Imcans having ,seats thereon for Yposition ing :in -a predetermined relation a plurality .of tubular parts, said first-named and secondnamed supporting means Ybeing :movable-,relative te -eaeb other, means actuated bythe .reemrocotorv actuating member .for indexing one .of said .supporting .means relative to .the other to align successively -thetubular parts .thereonewitb the .helix of blazing wire, the compression die, and the aring tool, and cam means on the actuating member .for moving onev of said supporting means itoward and away ,from the .other supporting means simultaneously to eiect the actuation .of said cutting means 4to sever a coil and assemble it on a tubular partsto effect the compression of a coil at the compression die and to eiecttlfie deformation -of the tubular Vparts at the flaring tool.

5. In an apparatus for assembling an annulus onto a tubular portion of an article, the combination of a table having a seat for supporting said article With the tubular portion disposed in a vertical position, means mounting said table for rotation about Va vertical axis and for vertical reciprocation, actuating means for reciprocating said table to and from a lower position and an upper position and for indexing said table to move an article carried thereby successively through a plurality of stations and to vertically reciprocate said article at said stations, means at one of said stations operable in response to the actuation of said table to cause an annulus to be deposited onto said article and about the tubular portion as the table is moved to its upper position, and a stationary tool mounted at another station operable to engage said tubular portion and flare the end thereof as the table is moved to its upper position to cause the retention of said annulus on the tubular portion of said article.

6. In an apparatus for assembling coils on tubular members, the combination of a feed table having a seat thereon for supporting a tubular member in vertical position, means mounting said table for rotation about a Vertical axis and for vertical reciprocable movement, actuating means for alternately moving said feed table vertically to and from a lower position and an upper position and forr indexing said table to advance an article thereof successively through a plurality of stations and to reciprocate said article vertically at each of said stations, means for feeding a supply of helically coiled brazing material disposed above and in vertical `alignment Witha .tubular member at one o f .said stations, means .at .said .one station .actuated -by the table during its upward movement for clipping a .coil from the supply of helical brazing material to cause said .coil .to be .deposited on .said tubular member in said one position, and stationary means mounted above .Said table at another one of said `stations and `in vertical .alignment with a tubular rmember at .said station operable to engage and to deform the end of said tubular member to retain the coil thereon.

.7. An assembling apparatus comprising a table having a seat thereon V for ksupporting an article provided :with a tubular member, means for rotating said table about a vertical axis through predeterrriinexi arcuate distances to ade Vance `said article successively through a plurality of stations, a supporting member disposed above said table, a guide in said supporting member at one of said stations for guiding a helix, means operable in `timed relation to the actuation of said table yfor intermittently advancing said helix in said guide, cutting .means for rcutting a coilfrom said helix in response to relative vertical 'movement between said cutting means and table to cause said coil to be deposited on saidartlcle at said station and in telescoping relation .about said tubular member thereon, a flaring tool mounted in said supporting member at another .station adapted te engage and flare the end of said tubular member in response to relative 4vertical movement between said guide and .said table, and means forming part of said actuating means ,for causing relative reciprocation between said ltable and said supporting member.

.8. An assemblingapparatus comprising a table having a seat lfor supporting an article 'provided with a tubular member, a vertically disposed guide pin yieldably mounted on said seat for vertical movement and having a normal upper position adapted to telescopingly receive the tubular member thereon and to extend upwardly beyond the end of the tubular member, spring means for yieldably retaining said guide pin in its upper position, a frame for supporting said table for rotation about a vertical axis and for vertical reciprocable movement, actuating means for rotating said table through predetermined arcs in one direction to advance an article on said table successively to a plurality of stations and for vertically reciprocating said table to move said article up and down at each of said stations, guide means disposed above said table at one of said stations for guiding a helix of solder with the end thereof in substantial vertical alignment With the guide pin at said station, means operable in timed relation to the actuation of said table to intermittently advance said helix of solder in said guide, said guide pin being moved into telescoping relation with the end of said helix by the movement of the table to its upper position, cutting means actuated by said table in response to the upward movement thereof to cut off a coil from said helix which coil is guided onto the article in telescoping relation with said tubular member, and a stationary flaring tool mounted in said frame above said table at another station operable to depress said yieldable guide pin during the upward movement of said table and to engage and flare the end of said tubular member to cause the retention of said coil on said article.

9. An assembling apparatus for assembling an annulus of several convolutions of helically formed brazing material onto a tubular member of an article comprising a table having a seat for supporting said article' in a predetermined position thereon and With the tubular member disposed in a substantially verticaly position, means mounting said table for rotation about a vertical axis and for axial reciprocable movement to guide said articles through a predetermined path of movement, actuating means for reciprocating said table to and from a lower position and an upper position and for indexing said table through predetermined arcuate distancesrat intervals between said reciprocations to advance an article on said table successively through a plurality of stations and to vertically reciprocate said article at each of said stations, means at one of said stations operable in timed relation to the actuation of said table and in response to the movement of said table to its upper position for depositing an annulus of several convolutions of a helix onto said article and about said tubular member, a stationary die at another one of said stations engageable with said annulus during the upward movement of said table to compress said annulus, and a stationary aring tool at another station engageable with said tubular member during movement of said table to its upward position to flare the end of said tubular member for retaining the annulus thereon. v

10. An assembling apparatus comprising a table having a plurality of seats for supporting a plurality of articles provided with tubular members in a predetermined vertical position thereon, a frame mounting said table for rotation about a vertical axis and for vertical reciprocable movement, actuating means including a reciptable, means on said actuator member operable-- in response to the movement thereof in one direction to rotate said table through predetermined arcs to advance said articles carried thereby successively to a plurality of stations, guide means supported on said frame above said table at one of said stations in substantial vertical alignment With the tubular member of an article at said station for guiding a helix of soldering material, drive means actuated by said actuating member for feeding said helix, cutting means supported on said frame and actuated by said table in response to the upward movement thereof for cutting oil a coil of said helix to cause said coil to be deposited on said article in tele# scoping relation about the tubular member on the article as said article is raised into close proximity thereto during the upward movement of said table, a stationary die mounted on said frame above said table at another station and engageable with said coil during the upward movement of said'table for compressing said coil, and a stationary aring tool mounted on said frame above said table at another station and operable to engage and flare the end of the tubular member of said article in response to the upward movement of said article and said table.

JOHN S. SI'ULL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 816,943 Schultz Apr. 31906 1,482,687 Kraft Feb. 5, 1924 

